john boehner didn't lose the presidency, my friend. and don't forget that. and by the way, conservatives did not win the presidency and conservatives did not win the senate. it was a lousy year. and you have to deal with that. and let me add one thing. i am a flat tax supply sider and i worked for ronald reagan. reagan compromised. he compromised in 1982 over a lousy deal which he regretted. he compromised in 1983 over a very good social security fix. and then he compromised again in 1986 over a very good tax reform fix. >> right. >> so if you blame -- >> i agree if the other side wanted to compromise, i would say we should. >> you've got to learn how to work a little bit here. >> what does obama want that's not in the fiscal cliff -- he wants what's in the fiscal cliff. it's defense cuts and tax hikes. we're compromising with someone who doesn't want to compromise. he likes that stuff. i know he doesn't want to raise taxes on the middle class. but we have to give up everything in this deal. we should articulate our principles or give him what he wants. we'r